EP1818824B1 - Améliorations de et associées à des terminaux de communication - Google Patents

Améliorations de et associées à des terminaux de communication Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1818824B1
EP1818824B1 EP07105391.2A EP07105391A EP1818824B1 EP 1818824 B1 EP1818824 B1 EP 1818824B1 EP 07105391 A EP07105391 A EP 07105391A EP 1818824 B1 EP1818824 B1 EP 1818824B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
terminal
software
delivery
profile
operable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP07105391.2A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1818824A1 (fr
Inventor
Janne Aaltonen
Ari Ikonen
Tero Koivunen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nokia Technologies Oy
Original Assignee
Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB0031368A external-priority patent/GB0031368D0/en
Application filed by Nokia Technologies Oy filed Critical Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority claimed from EP01995698.6A external-priority patent/EP1344128B1/fr
Publication of EP1818824A1 publication Critical patent/EP1818824A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1818824B1 publication Critical patent/EP1818824B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F8/00—Arrangements for software engineering
    • G06F8/60—Software deployment
    • G06F8/61—Installation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to software delivery apparatus.
  • the invention relates to communication terminals and the provision of software thereto, particularly, although not exclusively, operating system and application software.
  • WO 00/36503 describes a software program that automatically and selectively transfers source computer software and configuration information to a target computer.
  • a terminal may be supplied to a user in a so-called thin implementation, that is with a set of software sufficient to permit the user to connect to the apparatus and carry out basic operations including the ability to request additional software.
  • this permits a terminal manufacturer to restrict the implementation of software on his terminal to that which has been checked and determined to have no potential liability to the manufacturer. It is thus the responsibility of the terminal user to enter into appropriate agreements to obtain any additional software he requires for his terminal.
  • a mobile communication handset could be enhanced in this manner via a PLMN acting as the access network for an ASP capable of delivering the desired elements.
  • a Set Top Box (STB) intended for viewing television could be supplied in a thin implementation to a user who could then elect to enhance its capabilities such as to allow interaction with particular content.
  • the access network could be provided by a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) providing the return channel between the STB and the content provider working in tandem with a digital video broadcast (DVB) network over which content is delivered to the STB.
  • PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
  • DVD digital video broadcast
  • the apparatus may be capable of emulating a particular software configuration of the terminal.
  • the terminal provides configuration information in tandem with the request for software. Such information may be utilised by the apparatus to generate an emulation specific to that particular terminal.
  • the network connection to the apparatus also permits the derivation from a manufacturer of information relevant to a particular terminal which information could effect the operation of the terminal. Such information could relate to known problems or upgrades to the terminal not otherwise available from the terminal itself.
  • the method may be executed by an application service provider (ASP) independent of the terminal manufacturer or indeed the network operator of the terminal making the request.
  • ASP application service provider
  • a default ASP having details of initial terminal configurations may be set by the operator to which all such initial requests for software are directed. This would avoid the need for the terminal or more particularly the presence of software on the terminal necessary to provide configuration information to the ASP. Subsequently, if permitted by the operator and assuming the relevant software was present on the terminal the user could contact any ASP for further software. It will also be apparent that the method could be employed by the network operator itself.
  • the method may include carrying out an initial assessment of the software request to determine whether the software is appropriate for delivery with regard to the present configuration of the terminal making the request. Depending on the outcome it may be possible to suggest to the user of the terminal what additional software, if any, should be requested to allow his original request to be met. Such a step would provide a useful initial filter to avoid unnecessary failures during the subsequent terminal emulation step. As such it adds to the confidence of a user of the terminal that the software he is requesting will function correctly and perhaps more importantly not damage or otherwise adversely effect the existing operation of his terminal.
  • the software provider may be co-located with the controller in the sense that the software required by the user is sourced locally or from specified providers. This could be the case where the terminal forms part of a network in which its uses will be tightly constrained by the provider. For example, an operator of a Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) network may wish to restrict the delivery of enhanced interactivity components for its STBs to its own products for compatibility and/or commercial reasons. Alternatively, the user of a mobile terminal may wish to be free to install whatever software he chooses in which case the software provider could be selected on the basis of cost, for example, from a database of providers kept updated by the operator of the controller. Thus, the user is provided with a valuable opportunity to personalise his terminal.
  • DVD Digital Video Broadcast
  • a communication terminal architecture 1 is shown in which elements of a so-called thin implementation are bounded with a solid line and further optional elements of a so-called thick implementation are bounded with a chain line.
  • a first hardware layer 3, device driver layer 5, basic operating system 7 and native browser 9 form the thin implementation of the terminal.
  • Included within the hardware layer are the entities required for a user to interact with the terminal and for the terminal to establish and maintain a connection with a network.
  • the entities include those appropriate to a mobile and/or fixed terminal. As such entities are well known to those skilled in the art they will not be described further here except to the extent that they assist in understanding the present invention.
  • Such elements may include an additional operating system 11, middle layer software 13 such as a modem application programming interface (API), Java (trade mark) native interface 15 and graphics 17, a Java (trade mark) virtual machine 19 within a Java (trade mark) implementation 21.
  • middle layer software 13 such as a modem application programming interface (API), Java (trade mark) native interface 15 and graphics 17, a Java (trade mark) virtual machine 19 within a Java (trade mark) implementation 21.
  • API application programming interface
  • Java trademark
  • a further API 23 provides a foundation for further applications 25.
  • a Java (trade mark) browser 27 may also be included.
  • a terminal 1 is manufactured and supplied to a user in a thin implementation.
  • the user is provided with the basic functionality necessary to allow him to establish a connection 29 to a network 31 with which he has a service agreement.
  • the native browser 9 permits the user to access an Application Service Provider (ASP) 33 capable of supplying additional elements of the terminal architecture to the connected terminal 1.
  • ASP Application Service Provider
  • the terminal manufacturer or network operator may predefine the selection of the ASP. Alternatively or perhaps additionally, the user may be free to select a desired ASP.
  • a request 35 from a user for an element of the terminal architecture is transmitted over the network 31.
  • the request contains information setting out the current configuration of the terminal architecture.
  • the ASP receives the request and either creates or updates a user profile 37 for that terminal 1 which may be supplemented by information provided by a manufacturer and/or network operator of the terminal 1.
  • Such additional information could, in the case of the manufacturer relate to software versions relevant to particular terminals which data may be too lengthy or sensitive to store in the terminal 1 itself.
  • the additional information provided by the operator could identify the services the user subscribes to which might have a bearing on the desirability or otherwise of certain elements of the terminal architecture.
  • Such services might, for example, require the presence of a particular browser or application to access interactive content over a broadband digital broadcast network.
  • the ASP 33 may correctly correlate such additional information with a request 35 from a particular terminal 1 to which it is relevant, some form of identifier common to both the terminal 1 and the additional information would be required. This might take the form of a serial number or IPv6 address range, for example.
  • the ASP 33 may also analyse the profile 37 and determine from that analysis whether the selected element is appropriate in view of the existing configuration of that terminal. For example, the ASP 33 could recognise that the delivery of a Java (trade mark) browser 27 is inappropriate where the terminal 1 is in a thin condition due to the absence of the intermediate software layers.
  • a database 45 holding details of software elements corresponding to the different requirements of various terminals provides the ASP 33 with the ability to identify what elements are required to achieve certain terminal configurations.
  • the database also maintains a list of provider addresses where such elements may be sourced. Such a list will be updated regularly to reflect changes in availability and cost to the ASP 33.
  • a response could then be made by the ASP 33 to the terminal 1 indicating that the request cannot be validated and suggesting the delivery of the appropriate additional elements of the layers necessary to support the desired element.
  • the ASP 33 commences sourcing of the desired element or elements subject to any restriction in place from the user profile 37 and in accordance with provider address provided by the database 45.
  • the ASP 33 contacts via the Internet 39 one or more software providers 41,43.
  • an appropriate provider 41 should deliver the element to the ASP 33.
  • this will be negotiated between the ASP 33 and the provider 43 with the ASP 33 eventually remitting the cost to the terminal user through a suitable mechanism, credit card payment, billing to the user's network operator are some examples.
  • the new element supplied to the ASP 33 by the provider 41,43 is not immediately delivered to the terminal 1 but is placed 47 into a cache 49 forming part of a terminal emulation environment 51.
  • the element is held within the cache 49 whilst an emulation controller 53 requests 55 the user profile 37 appropriate to the terminal 1 for which the element is destined. Details of the profile 37 are returned 57 to the controller 53.
  • the controller 53 generates a request 59 which is received by a store 61 holding a plurality of software blocks at least some of which, in response to the request 59, may be built up into an emulation of the terminal 1 as defined by the profile 37.
  • These blocks are delivered 63 from the store 61 to a emulation space 65 where the emulation is built following which the new element is copied 67 from the cache 49 to the emulation space 65 in a manner analogous to the delivery method by which the element should eventually reach the terminal 1.
  • the controller 53 is then able to carry out diagnostic checks on the emulation within the space 65 with a view to validating the proposed terminal configuration. Assuming the tests are successful the new element may be delivered via the access network to the terminal where its is installed. Otherwise, the ASP 33 will, in response to a failure during validation, indicate to the terminal that the new element has not been validated with the present terminal configuration together with an indication of the reason for non-validation. Where appropriate, the ASP 33 may suggest possible options which could be carried out in relation to the present terminal configuration to allow validated delivery of the element.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Stored Programmes (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Appareil de livraison de logiciels (33) comprenant un contrôleur permettant de :
    recevoir une requête émise à partir d'un terminal, ladite requête identifiant un élément logiciel pour une livraison au dit terminal ;
    déterminer une configuration dudit terminal ;
    déterminer, en fonction de la configuration dudit terminal, si ledit élément logiciel demandé est approprié pour une livraison ;
    répondre à la détermination que ledit élément logiciel demandé n'est pas approprié pour une livraison afin d'identifier un ou plusieurs éléments logiciels additionnels requis par ledit terminal pour permettre au dit terminal de prendre en charge ledit élément logiciel demandé ; et
    rechercher lesdits un ou plusieurs éléments logiciels additionnels et ledit élément logiciel demandé pour une livraison au dit terminal.
  2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le contrôleur permet de générer un profil utilisateur en réponse à une détermination d'une configuration dudit terminal.
  3. Appareil selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le contrôleur permet de compléter ledit profil en utilisant des informations fournies par un fabriquant dudit terminal.
  4. Appareil selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3, dans lequel le contrôleur permet de compléter ledit profil en utilisant des informations fournies par un opérateur du réseau dont ledit terminal est un membre.
  5. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4, dans lequel le contrôleur permet de déterminer si ledit élément logiciel demandé est approprié pour une livraison, en fonction dudit profil utilisateur.
  6. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, ledit contrôleur permettant d'identifier lesdits un ou plusieurs éléments logiciels additionnels par les actions suivantes :
    accéder à une base de données contenant des détails d'éléments logiciels correspondant aux différentes exigences de divers terminaux ; et
    identifier quels éléments logiciels sont requis pour réaliser certaines configurations de terminaux.
  7. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel le contrôleur permet d'accéder à une base de données maintenant une liste d'adresses de fournisseurs auprès desquels des éléments logiciels peuvent être obtenus.
  8. Procédé d'exploitation d'un appareil de livraison de logiciels (33), le procédé comprenant les étapes suivantes :
    recevoir une requête émise à partir d'un terminal, ladite requête identifiant un élément logiciel pour une livraison au dit terminal ;
    déterminer une configuration dudit terminal ;
    déterminer, en fonction de la configuration dudit terminal, si ledit élément logiciel demandé est approprié pour une livraison ;
    être réactif à la détermination que ledit élément logiciel demandé n'est pas approprié pour une livraison, identifier un ou plusieurs éléments logiciels additionnels requis par ledit terminal pour permettre au dit terminal de prendre en charge ledit élément logiciel demandé ; et
    rechercher lesdits un ou plusieurs éléments logiciels additionnels et ledit élément logiciel demandé pour une livraison au dit terminal.
  9. Procédé selon la revendication 8, comprenant en outre : générer un profil utilisateur en réponse à une détermination d'une configuration dudit terminal.
  10. Procédé selon la revendication 9, comprenant en outre : compléter ledit profil en utilisant des informations fournies par un fabriquant dudit terminal.
  11. Procédé selon la revendication 9 ou la revendication 10, comprenant en outre : compléter ledit profil en utilisant des informations fournies par un opérateur du réseau dont ledit terminal est un membre.
  12. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 11, comprenant : déterminer si ledit élément logiciel demandé est approprié pour une livraison, en fonction dudit profil utilisateur.
  13. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 11, dans lequel l'étape consistant à identifier lesdits un ou plusieurs éléments logiciels additionnels comprend :
    accéder à une base de données contenant des détails d'éléments logiciels correspondant aux différentes exigences de divers terminaux ; et
    identifier quels éléments logiciels sont requis pour réaliser certaines configurations de terminaux.
  14. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 13, comprenant en outre : accéder à une base de données maintenant une liste d'adresses de fournisseurs auprès desquels des éléments logiciels peuvent être obtenus.
EP07105391.2A 2000-12-21 2001-12-19 Améliorations de et associées à des terminaux de communication Expired - Lifetime EP1818824B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0031368A GB0031368D0 (en) 2000-12-21 2000-12-21 Improvements in and relating to communication terminals
US26746801P 2001-02-09 2001-02-09
EP01995698.6A EP1344128B1 (fr) 2000-12-21 2001-12-19 Appareil et méthode de distribution de software

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01995698.6A Division EP1344128B1 (fr) 2000-12-21 2001-12-19 Appareil et méthode de distribution de software
EP01995698.6A Division-Into EP1344128B1 (fr) 2000-12-21 2001-12-19 Appareil et méthode de distribution de software

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1818824A1 EP1818824A1 (fr) 2007-08-15
EP1818824B1 true EP1818824B1 (fr) 2016-07-13

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EP07105391.2A Expired - Lifetime EP1818824B1 (fr) 2000-12-21 2001-12-19 Améliorations de et associées à des terminaux de communication

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Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5951639A (en) * 1996-02-14 1999-09-14 Powertv, Inc. Multicast downloading of software and data modules and their compatibility requirements
US5867714A (en) * 1996-10-31 1999-02-02 Ncr Corporation System and method for distributing configuration-dependent software revisions to a computer system
AU2481600A (en) 1998-12-17 2000-07-03 Pcfirst.Com, Inc. Automatic and selective transfer of software and configuration information from a source computer to a target computer and automatic upgrade of software

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